Crossing The Rubicon

Crossing The Rubicon

Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. Mark 10:52

When Karen and I were in Rome one time, we heard the following story.

Julius Caesar was a general in the Roman army. After great military victories that gave him extraordinary military power, he was ordered by the Roman Senate to resign his command and return home. Some say that the senators began plans for Caesar’s assassination then because they feared his popularity with the people.

When Caesar received the orders, he moved his army toward Rome, pausing before the bridge that crossed the Rubicon River into Italy proper. He knew that crossing with his army would be seen as an act of aggression; and yet, if he didn’t proceed, he would surely be prosecuted and likely killed.

He hesitated.

Everyone in his army knew the law. If they followed Caesar, they would be considered traitors. Finally, Caesar quoted a line from a play by Menander, “Let the die be cast.”

When Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with a legion of men alongside him, he breached an irrevocable point of no return—and hence the phrase, “Crossing the Rubicon.” Caesar and his men knew that nothing would ever be the same after that.

In the New Testament story of Bartimaeus, Mark tells us that the blind man faced a similar moment of decision. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was nearby, he took off his beggar’s garment and asked Jesus to heal him. This symbolic gesture was essentially burning a bridge to his old life. Because of the man’s great faith, Jesus healed him. Bartimaeus left his old life, and Mark says he followed Jesus down the road. Bartimaeus had crossed the Rubicon to a new life.

Are we ready to cast our old lives aside and follow Jesus? Will we also go forward with a new vision from Jesus and refuse to look back?

I always want to look forward to my time with the Lord, and I refuse to stay blinded by my past. My prayer is that you will do the same.

TODAY’S RX

The rearview mirror is a tiny reminder of where you have been. Merely glance at it as you keep looking forward, following in the footsteps of Jesus.

God, thank you for the reminder that dwelling in my past does not allow me to move forward. Help me to take action and cross the bridge to what you have planned for me in my future. I desire to be obedient to your call.